Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-05
BLOOD FOR BLOOD.
Joel williams, the Murderer OF Dock
Blocker, Tracked to Anderson
County by an Officer.
He Answers a Cau to Surrender With a
Pistol Shot, and is Promptly Filled
With Bullets.

IALESIlNEi NhA'y May "a mUSt
bloody and fatal tragedy occurred two
and half miles north of Palestine at 1880
clock yesterday evening, resulting in
the instant death of cold blooded muir
derer and fugitive from justice, being
none other than Joel Williams, who, a
week ago, shot down and killed without
cause Dock Blocker, wealthy sheepman
st Abbott, q small town in Hill county.
AS Mr.. Ed Foster was going to his farm
in company with one of his colored hands
he heard several shots in quick success
sion ahead of him, and riding forward he
was hailed by man standing by the side
of the road, who told him to stop, as ne
was in trouble, having shot man whom
he was trying to arrest. Mr.. Foster
looked ahead and saw man strug-
CLING By the side of the
road with pistol in his
hand, whom Powell declared to be Joel
| Williams, the murderer of Blocker, and
whom he, as deputy sheriff of FreestOne
county, had been tracking since Monday.
Mr.. Foster then offered to go forward
and see if Williams would not give up his
pistol, but Powell objected to this, fear
| ing Williams might fire on him, supposing
him to be the officer, and suggested that
the colored boy 60 forward. This was
| done, but the wounded man did not
reply when the boy spoke, but struggled
to raise himself from the ground. The
two then went forward, going around the
man and telling him to give up his pistol
and they would help him all they could.
Getting no reply they went to his side aud
found him breathing his last, his pistol
still grasped in his hand, but he was
unable to speak. Deputy Powell, leaving
Mr.. Foster at the scene of the killing, i'm
mediately came into Palestine and related
the circumstances to Sheriff Davis, who,
with Justice Watts and jury of inquest,
went out and viewed the body, and
brought the remains to the city, placing
them IL vacant room of the jail, where
they have been viewed by hundreds of
men, boys and cOlored women to-day.
The dead man is small of stature, sun
tanned, gray eyes, slight dark mustache,
with front tooth missing, exactly suiting
to the description OF the slayer of
Blocker. He was positively identified to-
day as Joel Williams by John NJ. McDan-
lei of this county, who knew him in Louis
lana and also in this county, where he
worked at Sanders saw mills several
months during this year. He was also
recognized here by others who had seen
him hanging around saloons, and not
long ago raised difficulty with cripple
which came near being serious. Williams
was shot five times, twice Just above the
heart, once below the ribs, once in the
thigh, and once just above the right hip.
At TIE inquest to-day Deputy Powell
made the following statement: The Hill
county officers arrived at Fairfield Mon
day morning, and traced Williams to near
that place. There the chase was Joined
by Deputies Powell and A. W. Williams.
Near Richland station the fugitive either
abandoned his horse or could not catch
him. The parties separated and
the two Freestone deputies traced
him by his foot-tracks to within
mile or so of Cooks ferry on the Trim
ity river, where they separated, and Pow
ell came to the Tennessee colony, this
county, where he found that his man was
only a few hours ahead OF him. He
pushed on and overlook him shert dis
lance from the scene of the killing. He
rode along by Williams for hundred
yards, and being certain of the identity
civilians with Blocker's murderer, made
an excuse for getting off his horse, draw
ing his pistol and demanding surrender.
Williams shouted, ''I'll be id if l sur
render; I'll die first;" and drawing his
pistol from his breast pocket, it was dis
charged before he could present
it. The officer then fred rapidly,
backing down the road, at
the fifth shot, and telling
Williams if be would surrender he would
fire no more. The dead mans vest at the
breast pocket was badly powder burned
and Mr.. Foster, on examination of his
pistol, found it had one chamber empty.
Deputy Williams, hearing at the colony
that Powell was on the trail, hurried on,
but did not reach the scene until a half
hour after the killing. On one of the dead
mans fingers was a thinly plated gold
ring, and on the inside evidently cut with
knife was the name, Fred Roper. In an
old fashioned pocket-book was 80 cents in
silver, and written in ink the name. Lewis
Bailey. There is a reward of $500 for
Williams by the citizens of Waco and Hill
county. Williams remains have been
photographed, and il possible will
| be kept for further identification
by Hill county officers who have been
telegraphed for. He was about thirty
| three years OF age, and leaves a wife some
where whom he married in Louisiana.
Deputy Powell is only twenty-one years
of age, and this is the second man ne has
killed in making arrests. He is regarded
as a very intelligent and quiet man, and
though young, most excellent officer.
The verdict of the jury of inquest was in
accordance with the facts related by
Deputy Powell, and declaring Blocker's
murderer and deceased one and the same
Deputy Powell will remain here till the
grand Jury, which is in session, investi-
gates the matter. It is not supposed he
will be held